Swatantra Party

The Swatantra Party was a liberal-conservative political party in India that was active from 1959 to 1974. The party was founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachariar after his split with Indian National Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru, opposing the INC's socialist and statist outlook. The Swatantra Party was the first attempt to unite India's right-wing parties, and it supported a market-based economy, although it opposed laissez-faire policies. In 1962, the party won 6.8% of the vote and 18 seats in the Lok Sabha, and it won 44 seats in 1967. After Rajagopalachariar's death in 1972, the party rapidly declined, and it merged into Bharatiya Kranti Dal in 1974.